Community Congress set by Venice Progressives
The local group that has dominated the Grass
Roots Venice Neighborhood Council (GRVNC) for the past two years faces
reinvigorated opposition in new elections to be held on Sept.
10-11.
Egged on by the city’s Dept. of
Neighborhood Empowerment (DONE) and its General Manager, Greg Nelson, local
opponents of the Venice Progressives have dominated the election committee that
is writing new rules for the upcoming vote. Progressives feel the rules are
overly restrictive and will prevent many stakeholders from being able to cast a
ballot.
Nevertheless, the Venice
Progressives has announced a Community Congress for Aug. 13, where its slate of
candidates will be chosen by secret
ballot.
The Congress will be open to
the public and the press but only members of Venice Progressives will be able to
vote. Membership is open to all Venetians who agree with the Progressives
platform, which includes preserving the uniqueness and diversity of Venice,
community control of development, and promoting affordable housing for all. In
addition, members must be residents of
Venice.
The Progressives on the old
GRVNC Board were at odds with DONE and former councilmember Cindy Miscikowski on
a number of issues. The Progressives were opposed to the lottery for artists and
vendor booths on the Ocean Front, strongly supported preserving Lincoln Place
apartments, wanted 24-hour restrooms on the beach, opposed Playa Vista Phase II,
LAX expansion and the massive Lincoln Center
development.
City officials apparently
felt that the GRVNC had exceeded its mandate for filling pot holes and
supporting the local councilmember. In spite of opposition from developers and
real estate interests, Progressives won landslide victories in elections in 2003
and 2004. The city then overturned the 2004 election on a technicality.
This time around, opponents seem
intent on preventing as many Progressives from voting as
possible.
In contrast to other governmental
elections, those wishing to vote by absentee ballot will have to present
themselves at a meeting and prove that they are Venetian or satisfy other
eligibility requirements.
Election committee
members say that disabled voters can have someone come to their homes to
register them. However, this may be a violation of the Americans with
Disabilities Act which requires equal treatment. Some complaints have apparently
been filed with the federal government over this
requirement.
GRVNC stakeholders who are
out of town of the registration dates of Aug. 11, 18 and 21 will be unable to
cast an absentee ballot, as will those who have to work during the brief hours
of registration.
Posted: Mon - August 1, 2005 at 07:16 PM